Flexible cover and system for enclosing automobile hatch

Abstract

A flexible cover system adapted for enclosing the rear hatch opening of an automobile having an immovable roof structure over the passenger compartment and a hatch frame rearward of the roof structure defining the hatch opening. The hatch opening provides communication between the passenger compartment and the environment outside the automobile. The flexible cover system comprises a flexible water-impermeable sheet dimensioned for covering the hatch. The sheet has a peripheral edge margin. Securements along at least portions of the peripheral edge margin of the sheet are adapted for securing the sheet tautly over the hatch opening and adjacent the hatch frame. The securements are releasable only upon access to a designated portion of the peripheral edge margin. A lock mechanism restricts access to said designated portion of the peripheral edge margin such that removal of the sheet from over the hatch is prevented when the mechanism is in a locked position and permitted when the mechanism is in an unlocked position. The securements and lock mechanism cooperate to prevent unauthorized removal of the sheet from over the hatch opening and unauthorized entry into the passenger compartment through the hatch opening in the absence of damage to the cover system or automobile.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A flexible cover system for enclosing the rear hatch opening of an automobile having a passenger compartment, an immovable roof structure over the passenger compartment and a hatch opening rearward of the immovable roof structure, the hatch opening providing communication between the passenger compartment and the environment outside the automobile and being defined by a hatch frame in the body of the automobile, the flexible cover system comprising: a flexible water-impermeable sheet dimensioned for covering the hatch opening, the sheet having a peripheral edge margin;   securing means along at least portions of the peripheral edge margin of the sheet for securing the sheet tautly over the hatch opening and adjacent the hatch frame, the securing means being releasable only upon access to a designated portion of the peripheral edge margin; and   lockable access means for restricting access to said designated portion of the peripheral edge margin such that removal of the sheet from over the hatch opening is prevented when the access means is in a locked position and permitted when the access means is in an unlocked position, the securing means and lockable access means cooperating to prevent unauthorized removal of the sheet from over the hatch opening and unauthorized entry into the passenger compartment through the hatch opening in the absence of damage to the cover system or automobile.   
     
     
       2. A flexible cover system as set forth in claim 1 further comprising: quick connect means on the automobile and adjacent to the hatch frame; and   complementary quick connect means along the peripheral edge margin of the sheet for connecting with the quick connect means on the automobile.   
     
     
       3. A flexible cover system as set forth in claim 2 wherein the quick connect means on the automobile and the complementary quick connect means are VELCRO strips. 
     
     
       4. A flexible cover system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the securing means comprises slide fastener means. 
     
     
       5. A flexible cover system as set forth in claim 4 wherein the slide fastener means comprises: a hem along the peripheral edge margin of the sheet; and   channel means on the automobile and adjacent to the hatch frame for slidably receiving the hem whereby the hem is free to slide longitudinally within the channel means but is constrained against movement in a direction perpendicular to the channel means.   
     
     
       6. A flexible cover system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the lockable access means comprises: a substantially rigid plate adapted to extend over said designated portion of the peripheral edge margin; and   lock means for releasably locking the plate against the automobile, the plate being secured over said designated portion of the peripheral edge margin to resist access thereto when the lock means is in a locked position and the plate being released from securement to permit access to said designated portion of the peripheral edge margin when the lock means is in an unlocked position.   
     
     
       7. A flexible cover system as set forth in claim 6 further comprising hinging means for pivotally connecting the plate to the automobile such that the plate is positionable between a closed position in close proximity to said designated portion of the peripheral edge margin and an open position away from said designated portion of the peripheral edge margin. 
     
     
       8. A flexible cover system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the sheet further comprises window means for enabling a user within the passenger compartment to see through the sheet. 
     
     
       9. A flexible cover system as set forth in claim 8 wherein the window means comprises a flexible transparent film. 
     
     
       10. A flexible cover for enclosing the rear hatch opening of an automobile having a passenger compartment, an immovable roof structure over the passenger compartment, a hatch opening rearward of the immovable roof structure, and lockable access means for restricting access to a portion of the flexible cover, the hatch opening providing communication between the passenger compartment and the environment outside the automobile and being defined by a hatch frame in the body of the automobile, the flexible cover comprising: a flexible water-impermeable sheet dimensioned for covering the hatch, the sheet having a peripheral edge margin; and   securing means along at least portions of the peripheral edge margin of the sheet for securing the sheet tautly over the hatch opening, the securing means adapted for releasably engaging complementary securing means fixed to the automobile and adjacent the hatch frame, the securing means being releasable only upon access to a designated portion of the peripheral edge margin, access to said designated portion of the peripheral edge margin being restricted by the lockable access means such that removal of the sheet from over the hatch is prevented when the access means is in a locked position and permitted when the access means is in an unlocked position, the securing means and lockable access means cooperable to prevent unauthorized removal of the sheet from over the hatch opening and unauthorized entry into the passenger compartment through the hatch opening in the absence of damage to the cover or automobile.   
     
     
       11. A flexible cover as set forth in claim 10 further comprising quick connect means on the peripheral edge margin of the sheet, the quick connect means being adapted for releasably connecting to complementary quick connect means on the automobile and adjacent to the hatch frame. 
     
     
       12. A flexible cover as set forth in claim 11 wherein the quick connect means is a VELCRO strip. 
     
     
       13. A flexible cover as set forth in claim 10 wherein the securing means comprises slide fastener means. 
     
     
       14. A flexible cover as set forth in claim 13 wherein the slide fastener means comprises a hem along the peripheral edge margin of the sheet adapted for engagement with channel means on the automobile and adjacent to the hatch frame, the channel means adapted for slidably receiving the hem whereby the hem is free to slide longitudinally within the channel means but is constrained against movement in a direction perpendicular to the channel means. 
     
     
       15. A flexible cover as set forth in claim 10 wherein the sheet further comprises window means for enabling a user within the passenger compartment to see through the sheet. 
     
     
       16. A flexible cover as set forth in claim 8 wherein the window means comprises a flexible transparent film.